Food container evacuation system comprising a food container evacuation module and food containers therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a food container evacuation module ( 31 ) capable of enhanced performances in terms of attainable vacuum and also being portable and easy to use, to a food container evacuation system ( 300 ) comprising it and to food containers ( 33 ) apt to be used in such food container evacuation system ( 300 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A food container evacuation module comprising a case with a top portion and a bottom portion, the case containing a vacuum pump with a suction head, wherein in the bottom portion of said case there are means for coupling said suction head with an evacuation valving means located on the lid of a container, wherein the weight of said vacuum pump is comprised between 100 g and 600 g and its pumping flow rate is at least 0.2 l/min at a residual pressure of 20000 Pascal, the case being inscribable in a box with a height comprised between 10 cm and 25 cm, a width comprised between 5 cm and 15 cm, and a depth comprised between 3 cm and 7 cm, and wherein two circular protrusions, whose diameter is comprised between 10 mm and 80 mm and whose height is comprised between 3 mm and 50 mm being are present at the bottom of the case and not taken into account for the dimensions of the box. 
     
     
       2. The food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein the pumping flow rate is at least 0.1 l/min at a residual pressure of 15000 Pascal. 
     
     
       3. The food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pump is chosen from double head T-diaphragm pumps, single head L-shaped pumps, rolling diaphragm pumps, linear diaphragm pumps. 
     
     
       4. The food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein the cumulative weight of all the elements of the food container-evacuation with the exception of the vacuum pump is comprised between 250 g and 400 g. 
     
     
       5. The food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein it includes one or more rechargeable battery packs, optionally with an energy comprised between 1 and 20 Wh. 
     
     
       6. The food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises a pressure transducer, optionally such pressure transducer operating in the 0-100000 Pascal pressure range. 
     
     
       7. The food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises a valve to automatically vent the suction head, such valve being chosen from shape memory alloy wire controlled valves, solenoid valves and piezoelectric valves. 
     
     
       8. The food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises a display, optionally on the top portion of the case. 
     
     
       9. The food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein said evacuation valving means located on the lid of the container comprises a port capable of communicating with the suction head to form an external vacuum piping connection therewith. 
     
     
       10. The food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises a gas bottle with means for coupling to a food container, the internal volume of said gas bottle being comprised between 5 cm 3  and 20 cm 3 . 
     
     
       11. The food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of the case comprises plastics, optionally acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic or polycarbonate. 
     
     
       12. The food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein the case has an internal support structure designed in nylon reinforced with glass fiber, optionally in an amount comprised between 15 wt % and 35 wt %. 
     
     
       13. A food container evacuation system comprising:
 a power supply module, 
 a food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , 
 a food container with a lid, with a first and second protruding coupling circles on said lid, wherein the height of said circles is comprised between 3 mm and 10 mm. 
 
     
     
       14. The food container evacuation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first coupling circle is for the evacuation of the food container and the second coupling circle is for mechanical coupling with the evacuation module. 
     
     
       15. The food container evacuation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first coupling circle is for the evacuation of the food container and the second coupling circle is for introducing in the food container a gas or gas mixture coming from the food container evacuation module. 
     
     
       16. The food container evacuation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the power supply module is a wireless charger suitable to be coupled to the food container evacuation module and provided at the bottom with a charging interface. 
     
     
       17. The food container evacuation system according to  claim 13 , wherein it comprises a power cord and transformer for the food container evacuation module. 
     
     
       18. A food container for coupling with a food container evacuation module according to  claim 1 , wherein it includes a circular lid with a diameter comprised between 100 mm and 220 mm and inner volume comprised between 0.2 and 2 liters. 
     
     
       19. The food container according to  claim 18 , wherein it comprises on its lid a first and second protruding coupling circles, wherein the height of said circles is comprised between 3 mm and 10 mm. 
     
     
       20. The food container according to  claim 18 , wherein said food container is one of a kit of three containers having the following features:
 a first container has a lid diameter comprised between 180 and 220 mm and inner volume comprised between 1.3 and 2.0 liters, 
 a second container has a lid diameter comprised between 150 and 180 mm and inner volume comprised between 0.75 and 1.0 liters, 
 a third container has a lid diameter comprised between 100 mm and 150 mm and inner volume comprised between 0.2 and 0.5 liters.